Emma's POV
The city felt different at night. I had always loved the idea of moving to a big city, but actually being here—standing in front of our new apartment—was surreal. The buzzing lights, the distant sounds of traffic, and the hum of activity in every corner of the street made me realize just how much had changed in my life.
The past few months had been a whirlwind: moving across the country, packing up my life, and settling into an apartment with four strangers. Four people I knew only through brief online conversations.
I looked down at the keys in my hand and took a deep breath before I pushed open the door. The apartment smelled like fresh paint and cardboard—new beginnings all around. The living room was spacious, filled with boxes and mismatched furniture. The walls were a light grey, and the floors were hardwood—exactly the kind of modern, minimalist space I had imagined.
I stepped inside, setting my bag down near the door and glancing around the room. The space was almost empty, but you could still feel the potential of it. The high ceilings gave it an air of elegance, and the large windows let in a soft glow from the streetlights outside. It was perfect. This was my fresh start. No more small-town life, no more predictable days.
I took another deep breath and let myself soak it in. But it wasn't just the apartment that had me on edge. It was the people I was about to live with. I had met them briefly before I moved in, but now it was time to get to know them better—real, unfiltered.
There was Sophia, the shy one. She seemed cool enough, but I could tell she wasn't the easiest person to read. Caleb was outgoing, the kind of guy who could make friends in seconds, but I had a feeling his carefree nature hid more than he let on. Then there was Liam—quiet, intense, and mysterious. He gave off a vibe that made you want to stay on your toes around him.
And then there was Ryan. I hadn't interacted much with him yet, but I knew he would be the one to watch. He was tall, with broad shoulders and dark hair that always looked a bit disheveled, like he had just rolled out of bed and didn't care to fix it. His gaze was intense, like he could see right through you. And when he looked at me earlier, it was like the air between us had shifted, just for a moment. But maybe I was imagining things.
I shook my head, trying to focus. I wasn't here for drama. I was here to start fresh, focus on my career, and just live.
"Hey!" Sophia called from the couch, breaking my thoughts. "You made it."
I smiled and waved at her, taking a few steps toward the couch. She was already lounging, her long legs stretched out in front of her as she tapped away on her phone. "Yep, here I am," I said, setting my things down.
"I still can't believe we're all living together," she said, glancing up at me. "It's like a sitcom, right?"
I laughed. "Yeah, let's just hope it's not the kind where everything goes horribly wrong."
"Well, I wouldn't be opposed to a little chaos," she said, her eyes glinting mischievously.
Before I could respond, the sound of footsteps interrupted us. I turned to see Ryan standing in the doorway, his eyes briefly meeting mine before looking away.
"Hey, Ryan," I said, trying to make the first move.
He nodded in my direction, offering a polite but distant smile. "Hey, Emma. How's the move-in going?"
"Good, just... unpacking," I said, glancing around at the mess of boxes. "Still a work in progress."
Ryan chuckled lightly, his gaze lingering on the room for a moment before settling on me. There was something in his eyes that made me pause—a flicker of something I couldn't quite place.
"Need help with anything?" he asked, his voice a little too smooth.
I hesitated. I didn't want to come off as needy, but at the same time, it was hard to resist his offer. There was something magnetic about him—something that made me want to step closer, just to see if I could get a glimpse of what was behind that cool exterior.
"Maybe later," I said, forcing a smile. "Right now, I think I'm good."
He nodded, but didn't leave. There was an awkward silence that hung in the air. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his gaze flickering between me and Sophia, who had returned to her phone.
"I'll go grab some more boxes from the car," he finally said, breaking the silence. "I'll be back in a minute."
As he turned to leave, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I hadn't even had a chance to talk to him properly yet. But maybe that was for the best. I needed to focus on settling in, not getting caught up in whatever that brief connection had been.
---
Ryan's POV
I wasn't sure why I lingered so long. It wasn't like I had anything else to do, but something about Emma made me want to stick around. There was this quiet energy between us, like a current that pulsed under the surface whenever we were in the same room.
I didn't have time to figure it out right now, though. The last thing I wanted was to make things weird by staring at her like a creep.
But I couldn't help it.
I had my own reasons for being here in the city—reasons that had nothing to do with new roommates or drama. But something told me this group would be far more than just a temporary distraction. And as much as I tried to ignore it, Emma was already at the center of it all.
I stepped out of the apartment and down the hallway toward the stairs. My mind was still on her, on the way she looked at me earlier. It was almost like she was waiting for me to say something, to do something. But I wasn't sure what she wanted from me.
As I grabbed a few more boxes from the car, I could hear the others chatting inside. Their voices were muffled, but I could make out bits of conversation. Liam was talking about work, as usual—always too serious, always too calm. I don't think he ever showed emotion. And Caleb? He was probably cracking some joke about moving or offering to help—just like always.
But the silence in the apartment wasn't what bothered me. It was the fact that Emma was here. And the more I tried to stay focused, the more I realized I didn't want to.
---
Liam's POV
I watched from the doorway as Ryan left. There was something off about him today—more distracted than usual, and not just because of the move.
I leaned back against the doorframe and scanned the room, my gaze landing on Emma. She was unpacking, slowly, carefully, like she was trying to make everything perfect.
Perfect. That was something I didn't believe in. Life wasn't perfect, and neither were any of us.
But there was something about Emma. Something I couldn't quite pin down yet.
She caught my eye and smiled, the kind of smile that made everything feel just a little too... charged.
"So," I said, pushing myself off the door, "what's the plan for tonight? Anyone up for drinks?"
Sophia looked up from her phone, raising an eyebrow. "You always want to go out."
"Of course," I said, grinning. "Gotta make the most of the night. And hey, if we're going to live together, we might as well start making some memories."
"I'm in," Ryan said, stepping back into the room. He caught my gaze for a second, then turned to Emma. "What about you?"
Emma looked between us, a flicker of hesitation passing over her face. "I'm still unpacking, but... maybe I'll join you guys later."
Ryan gave her a nod, his expression softening for a moment before he turned away.
---
Sophia's POV
This whole thing was starting to feel like a soap opera. There was something... brewing between Emma and Ryan. Maybe it was just me, but I could feel the electricity every time they shared a glance.
And then there was Liam, who seemed perfectly fine with just watching things unfold.
But that was the thing about new beginnings—they weren't always what they seemed.